NCAA Adds Third Transfer Portal Window
The move is in response to shake-up after the House v. NCAA settlement, which now caps rosters at 105 total players, including walk-ons.
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My College Football Stock Report
Trending Upwards 📈
Garrett Nussmeier
Quarterback, LSU
It’s never too early for Heisman Trophy talk.
Both Mark Schofield and Joseph Acosta of SB Nation predict an LSU gunslinger could take home the prestigious award for the second time in three seasons.
After posting 4,052 yards though the air and 29 touchdowns a year ago, 2025 might be Garrett Nussmeier’s turn.
“Depending on where you look, the LSU signal-caller is the favorite to capture the Heisman Trophy next season,” the pair of analysts said. “… The last two LSU quarterbacks to win the Heisman, Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, did so in their senior season under center in Baton Rouge.”
Nussmeier will open his Heisman-hopeful campaign on August 30 in a pivotal week-one battle against Clemson.
Glenn Schumann
Co-Defensive Coordinator, Georgia
Georgia defensive play caller Glenn Schumann is prepped to mentor one of the nation’s most ferocious linebacker corps this fall.
The Bulldogs return the services of CJ Allen, Raylen Wilson, and Chris Cole, a trio recently recognized by Athlon Sports as the second-best linebacking crew nationally.
“Perhaps the biggest strength Georgia has at linebacker this season is the versatility,” Sports Illustrated’s Jonathan Williams added. “Allen and Wilson have shown their wide range of skill sets over the last two seasons… [Cole] possesses a rare combination of length, speed, and size that allows him to cover well in the pass game and hold his own between the tackles.”
Between the three commodities, Georgia will bring back a combined 139 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss, from a year ago.
Makhi Hughes
Running Back, Oregon
Although former Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel and wide-out Tez Johnson stole the show as offensive focal points a season ago, the Ducks are tasked with also replacing Jordan James — who quietly excelled as the Big Ten’s third-leading rusher.
Dan Lanning and Co. found their guy out of the transfer portal in Tulane’s Makhi Hughes. The four-star running back committed to Oregon in early January but was recently recognized by College Football News as a rusher who “might just steal the spotlight.”
“After two dominant seasons at Tulane, Hughes was one of the most coveted backs in the portal,” Mathey Gibson wrote. “… Don’t be surprised if Hughes becomes one of the most productive backs in the country.”
Throughout his first two campaigns with the Green Wave, Hughes racked up 1,982 yards after contact.
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Additional Transfer Portal Window
Bret Bielema, Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian, and James Franklin are all examples of notable head coaches who have complained about the timing of the NCAA’s transfer portal windows.
To the dismay of staffs across the country, the NCAA is set to open a third transfer portal window beginning Monday July 7 and closing August 5.
The move is in response to shake-up following the House v. NCAA settlement, which now caps rosters at 105 total players — including walk-ons.
According to Pro Football Network, the third window-opening is unprecedented.
“The new July window is tailor-made for a unique group called Designated Student-Athletes, or DSAs,” Shivani Menon said. “These are basically athletes who were eligible to play in 2024-25 and were told they had a spot for 2025-26 but ended up getting blindsided by the new roster cuts.”
According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the DSA tag will remain with the athlete for the entirety of their collegiate career, which could potentially create a multitude of last-minute moves in the middle of fall camp.
Big 12 Preseason Poll
Although the Big 12 officially announced it wouldn’t be releasing a preseason poll in June, USA Today’s Dan Wolken explored a new angle regarding the ranking’s absence in an article published on Tuesday.
“The Big 12’s decision is also part of a different trend, which we’ve seen across all the power conferences this summer and is actively harming college football: Distrust of the postseason system they built.”
Last year, for example, Arizona State was picked to finish last in the Big 12 by the media. Consequently, Wolken believes the Sun Devils “did not get enough respect from the CFP committee,” despite winning the league behind an 11-2 record.
Wolken proposed that the Big 12 could’ve received the “short end of the stick” last season because Arizona State and BYU were slotted at 16th and 13th in their own conference’s preseason hierarchy.
“Expanding the CFP from four to 12 was a no-brainer,” Wolken continued. "But, moving the arguments for or against teams into the margins has come with an unintended consequence. Nobody believes in the system they built…”
Between The Numbers 📊
9.5
On3, Sports Illustrated, and Sporting News all have Texas pinned as college football’s “Way-Too-Early” No. 1 team heading into the fall.
However, oddsmakers aren’t too confident about the Longhorns eclipsing a double-digit win total for the third time in as many seasons.
Shockingly, DraftKings and several other sportsbooks have Texas’ preseason over/under win tally set at 9.5.
In the second year of the new-look SEC, there’s no doubt that the Longhorns’ schedule is grueling.
Steve Sarkisian’s bunch will kickoff the 2025 slate on the road against defending national champions Ohio State, while also having to play Florida, Kentucky, and Georgia outside of Austin.
CBS Sports’ Jimmie Kaylor believes Texas is up for the challenge.
“When I broke down Texas’ 2025 schedule I conservatively came up with 10 wins,” Kaylor said. “If the Horns stay healthy, however, this could easily be an 11 or 12 win regular season team.”
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“The star of the new-look Pac-12 has been a consistent winner for the last 25 years, just logged its first College Football Playoff appearance, and had its best player finish as the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy Voting.”
Since 2006, Boise State has won at least 10 games an astounding 14 times.
Now, they’ll take on a well-earned distinction as the premier brand of a revived power conference, as the Pac-12 will morph into an eight-team league in 2026.
Aside from Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould adding the Broncos, other coveted Mountain West programs among the likes of Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State will join the Pac-12’s quest to regain national limelight.
CBS Sports’ Chip Patterson coined Boise State as “the star of the new-look Pac-12,” and for good reason.
“Since 1999, the Broncos have 16 conference titles, 14 AP Top 25 finishes (five as a top-10 team) and no years with a losing record,” Patterson said. “Most of these [new Pac-12] teams have been competing for, or winning conference titles in recent years – but none have won consistently for a quarter-century with no dip in results.”
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